The Sparke Cast

In this podcast, as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act), Partner Chantal Tipene and Senior Associate Molly Campbell discuss the upside and emerging challenges of the FOI Act. They will also share practical solutions on how you can navigate through the challenges.

If you have any questions about the issues within this podcast or require assistance with FOI processing matters, please contact:

Chantal Tipene – Partner | Chantal.Tipene@sparke.com.au, or

Molly Campbell – Senior Associate | Molly.Campbell@sparke.com.au

In this “Evolving Workplace” episode, Felicity Edwards and Ben Gottlieb from our Workplace team, and Chantal Tipene, a privacy specialist from our Government team, discuss mandatory COVID vaccination policies in the workplace, and the obligations employers may have from a privacy perspective when they collect information about their employees’ vaccination status.    

In this podcast, Partner and Head of Maritime and Transport, Michelle Taylor talks about major shipping casualties, including her experience during the Rena casualty ten years on, and the necessity to adopt an approach to major incidents (and their ensuing claims) that is not purely focused on questions of legality and viewing the management of loss as a matter of pecuniary compensation alone.

In his latest Executive Series podcast, Brad Vinning talks with Marc Orchard, the founder of the “BDO for Startups” program, about his personal and professional perspective during the pandemic in 2020—from the birth of his first child, flexible working arrangements, to the impacts on the startup community.

In this “Talk 5 in 5” episode, Carlie Holt, Jennifer Williams and Georgina Dodd from our Workplace team explore practical considerations when managing a workplace investigation and invoking Legal Professional Privilege (LPP). 

In his latest Executive Series podcast, Brad Vinning talks with Chris Smeed, CEO of Cubiko. Born out of necessity to ensure a not-for-profit medical practice could remain viable, Cubiko is the new kid on the health tech block taking everyone by storm. Launching in late 2019 the storm clouds of COVID-19 spelt trouble for many but it also gave rise to innovative ways to help one another and new tech products to literally pay for themselves. Chris joins Brad to share the hard times, the good times and the decision to double down on a freemium offering in the midst of a pandemic.

In his latest Executive Series podcast, Brad Vinning talks with Francesca Webster about her start-up days in the beauty industry and how the need to diversify and pivot caused by the pandemic has set her up on a new path of growth.

Changes to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) in late March 2021 are the focus of the latest instalment of The Evolving Workplace. In this brief “Talk 5 in 5” episode, Seamus Burke, Emma Gruschka and Ariel Curtis outline five key issues employers need to be across regarding these amendments.    

In his latest Executive Series podcast, Brad Vinning talks with Dr Jane Thomason, who has a vision and passion to improve the lives and prosperity of people in underdeveloped countries through the power of blockchain technology.  Forget about bitcoin, the real power of crypto is far more wide reaching. Jane speaks to Brad about how COVID-19 brought forward years of progress in this space but also brought other parts of her life to a sudden (and not so fun) halt.

In our 10th episode of The Evolving Workplace podcast series, hosted by Partner Brendan Charles, Senior Associate Susan Withycombe-Taperell and Associate Ashley Sherr answer questions relating to COVID-19 in the workplace. They discuss the ability for employers to give lawful and reasonable directions for employees to return to the office and be vaccinated against COVID-19 and also the ongoing duty of employers to ensure health and safety in the COVID-normal workplace.